Running Eagle Falls

Running Eagle Falls is a very short out and back hike in the Two Medicine area of Glacier National Park. It is a must-do hike if you find yourself in this area of the Glacier.

Hike Info

Rating: Easy

Distance: 0.6 mile RT

Elevation Gain: no noticeable elevation gain

Fees: Glacier National Park Fee

Tips: This is a great hike for anyone. Although the trail is not paved, you could easily push a stroller or wheelchair here because it is so flat.

The trail is very flat and easy.

The hike runs less than a half mile roundtrip, and the waterfall is really impressive. There is no change in elevation either. In fact, this stop is more akin to an overlook than a hike. Get out of the car, walk a hundred meters, cross a bridge, walk another hundred meters, look at a waterfall—that’s the entire hike.

This would be a great place to wade into the water, or skip rocks!

There is one little bridge on this trail.

The water is so clear you can see every rock!

The trail walks along the river for most of the hike, and there are lots of shallow areas. It would be a great place to cool off your feet on a hot summer day. We stopped to skip a few rocks, but didn’t wade into the water.

The waterfall is sometimes called Trick Falls. This is because it plays a special trick during the summer, which makes it look like a double waterfall. There is a crevice in the rock. Water falls through this crevice, so the waterfall is actually dropping through a hole in the rock. But when the runoff is high, the water cascades over the layer of rock. It is a really cool look, which you can see in the pictures. To see what the waterfall looks like without the spring runoff, visit Hiking Glacier. (We visited in July, which has “Spring” runoff!)

When the spring runoff is over, just the bottom of the waterfall will remain.

There is a viewing platform at the end of the trail.

This waterfall alone is worth the trip to the Two Medicine area. But if you visit Two Medicine, you can also hike Aster Falls which is a little longer, but a great hike. Or check out our other Family Friendly Hikes in Glacier.

Running Eagle Falls is a beautiful waterfall.

Directions

The Running Eagle Falls trailhead is found 1.1 miles from the fee station. There are signs that mark the parking area, and there are pit toilets at the beginning of the trail.